Archive for 2012

Transitions, controlling your narrativeDecember 31
What do you want for your life? Many of us choose one path, then want another. Perhaps something that's more creative, altruistic, or legacy making. Making this switch can be scary and complex; but by digging deeply, we can gain clarity and confidence -- and ultimately a new purpose. Dr. Dan Gottlieb talks [...]

Caring about each other, Part IIDecember 17
Last month, we started a conversation about what it really means to give thanks and how the simple act of caring can help change lives and communities. Join us for more on the art and science of caring. Dan Gottlieb’s guests include Mark Matousek, Sharon Katz, Chris Newhard, John Alston, and others.

Male survivors of sexual abuseDecember 10
It's estimated that one in six boys is sexually abused in childhood. Victims are more likely to suffer PTSD, anxiety disorders, and depression than those who have not been abused, and they're 80 percent more likely to have problems with drugs and alcohol in adulthood. Exposure to sexual trauma [...]

Who am I in the autumn years?December 3
Once, we went from middle age to old age. Now it’s common to get an extra 10 to 20 years. For some, this rather new stage of life means uncharted territory regarding sex, money, partnering, self-esteem, friendships, and how we spend our time. Dr. Dan Gottlieb and his guests Jerrold Lee Shapiro [...]

Physician BurnoutNovember 26
In a recent national study, nearly 50 percent of physicians surveyed reported at least one symptom of burnout. Some pointed to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization in their relationships with patients, and a low sense of accomplishment. The study concluded that burnout is more common [...]

Caring about each otherNovember 19
On Thanksgiving, many families talk about what they’re grateful for. Taken a step further, what if we turned the conversation toward what we do with that gratitude and how the simple act of truly caring for others can change our lives and the world around us?

Promise to a friendNovember 12
Columnist Mary Monica Mitchell writes popular etiquette columns. But her new book "Woofs to the Wise: Learning to Lick at Life and Chew on Civility" is personal. Through creative, unconventional correspondence between Mitchell’s French Bulldog and her “sister of choice” -- Philadelphia [...]

In the public sphereNovember 5
What type of person wants to run for public office these days? Of course, it can feel flattering to be invited down the path of public service. And a devotion to beliefs could tip us toward heightened participation in the political process. While there are many rewards that come with serving others, [...]

Stay at home dadsOctober 29
Just like moms, some dads choose to stay home with the kids, while others are thrust into the role. Either way, it's a big job without the support of a human resources department. Nationwide, dads are staying home to care for kids in 1 percent of married households. […]

Daring to be vulnerableOctober 22
Vulnerability is not a weakness, according to Brené Brown, author of “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead.” Taken a step further, Brown says vulnerability is the only way we can have truly intimate, honest relationships. Brené Brown [...]

Hypocrisy and the modular mindOctober 15
You know the feeling: you want to get up in the morning to exercise, but you also want to stay in bed. You want to save for retirement, but you hate the idea of investing in Wall Street. These contradictions in our heads are fairly common -- it's as though we have two brains. [...]

Creatures of habitOctober 8
Everything we do and feel can be considered a habit. Scientists suggest 40 to 45 of our daily activities are based on choices we make, then stop thinking about. They become automatic. While habits — especially negative ones — seem to drive us, by understanding how they’re established in our minds [...]

Domestic violence: safety and supportOctober 1
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In some ways since the first women’s shelters of the 1970s, we’ve gained ground in our efforts to assist victims of this crime of power and control. Still, there’s plenty of work to do. Research suggests that nearly 25 percent of women will [...]

Kids and medsSeptember 24
Several years ago, journalist Judith Warner set out to document something she’d heard so much about: a growing push by parents and doctors to frivolously medicate children in the name of conformity and achievement. Instead, she found “the myth” of the overmedicated child is just that — an allegory, not a reality.

Crying: The act and the emotionSeptember 17
Shedding tears is generally linked to intense emotional experiences like joy or pain. Some of us do it more often than others, and the results can be mixed -- we might feel better, worse, or maybe embarrassed. Experts say stress is removed in our tears when we cry. And the [...]

Opening our eyes to intellectual disabilitiesSeptember 10
A unique artistic voice will play out at the Kimmel this month by a theatrical ensemble perceived to have intellectual disabilities. The performance called "FOOD COURT" exposes audiences to blunt-force shaming and the expression of unfulfilled desires of individuals who are marginalize by their differences.

Successful, resilient teensAugust 27
If you have a teenager in your life, you're probably wrangling everyday with issues that have to do with their desire for independence. Should he go on dates? Should she stay out late? How much help do they really need with matters at school? Some experts say the optimal parent is involved […]

What to do after the affair?August 20
Infidelity has become increasingly common in today's marriages. In the U.S., it's thought that roughly 1 in every 2.7 couples is touched by it. Motivations for straying range from the emotional to the sexual. And hooking up with a "hottie" or "soulmate" nowadays can be [...]

Addiction: Understanding the battleAugust 13
The death of Garrett Reid after a long battle with drug use is a reminder that addiction is a complicated - and chronic - disease. Researchers are urging healthcare providers and policy makers to treat addiction more like they do diabetes or heart disease. Guest host Maiken Scott [...]

A mind for sportsAugust 6
It's been easy to get caught up in the swell of excitement surrounding the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Human-interest stories profiling participants showcase their grit, amazing physical strength and skill, and hard knocks they've had to stomach and surmount. Surely [...]

Anxiety’s grip and stepfamily therapyJuly 30
Sometimes anxiety can keep us frozen. We ruminate and lose sleep, even over little things. We all have anxious reactions from time to time, but sometimes the grip of anxiety is tight and gets the best of us. This encore edition listens back to show host Dan Gottlieb's [...]

The body betrayalJuly 23
It's never a good time to experience an injury or ailment, whether chronic or acute. We have things to do, places to go...how could we possibly take time away from our daily routines to heal? That's a common response to things that slow us down physically. Other reactions […]

MigrainesJuly 16
Migraines. Freud had them, so did Thomas Jefferson, Chopin, and Darwin. Much of the distorted body imagery for Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is thought to have been migraine inspired. If you've experienced severe headaches, you know how incapacitating they are [...]

Vulnerabilities, shame, and self-acceptanceJuly 9
We never really know the impact it has when we openly talk about uncomfortable feelings we have or our physical or mental challenges. And while we may fear and deem these things as shameful, they may be conduits for something else -- like a path to healing or creativity […]

IntroversionJuly 2
It's generally believed that one third of the people in the world are introverts - people with rich inner lives who tend to be energized when alone and drained of energy when around other people. Here in the U.S., there's a cultural preference for the opposite […]

Healing power of poetryJune 25
Poetry can give shape and voice to our darkest feelings of suffering. Research shows writing about difficult moments can be an extraordinarily freeing experience, leading to a sense of safety, renewed energy, and restored order. Dr. Dan Gottlieb talks with author and teacher […]

Optimism, pessimism and the brainJune 18
The glass is half full or half empty...which is it? Our outlook on life reflects the need to experience pleasure and danger. When the two are balanced, everything's pretty good. When one's too strong, there can be trouble like addiction, anxiety, or depression. The good […]

Deepening men’s relationshipsJune 11
They're spending time together... they're in touch with each other's feelings... there's mutual admiration.... Take two men in a healthy, secure, non-sexual relationship, and what've you got? In pop culture, it's been referred to as a man crush or bromance, ala the movie "I […]

Crying: The act and the emotionJune 4
Shedding tears is generally linked to intense emotional experiences like joy or pain. Some of us do it more often than others, and the results can be mixed -- we might feel better, worse, or maybe embarrassed. Experts say stress is removed in our tears when we cry. And the […]

Social capital: Connections cultivatedMay 28
It may not be a term you throw around very often or give much thought to, but social capital figures prominently in our lives. It's there when we attend a gallery opening... exercise with neighbors... call an old friend...or volunteer at the local library. Social capital [...]

Genetic look-backMay 21
Genealogy is growing in popularity in the United States. There's been a mini love affair developing between PBS viewers and the program "Faces of America" -- about family roots with Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Recently WHYY-TV's news magazine "First" pulled […]

Parenting after the loss of a childMay 14
Picking up the pieces after the death of a child can feel like an impossible experience for parents. Forming a new sense of what it means to be family takes time, but that's hard to do while having to address the needs of surviving children. Dr. Dan Gottlieb explores what […]

Children’s mental healthMay 7
Happy, healthy lives begin early in childhood. At risk behaviors, poverty, and unmet emotional needs are things that can do a number on kids' mental health and derail them from succeeding in school, at work, or in their communities. This week marks National Children's Mental […]

ADHD in adultsApril 30
Millions of adults experience ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), yet only 11% are in treatment. And why is that? Generally ADHD begins in childhood and can look like distractibility. In adolescents, it can look like extreme moodiness. Adults often don't get […]

Bedside mannerApril 23
These days, medical professionals are increasingly technologically savvy, but how are they when it comes to good old-fashioned bedside manner? Dr. Dan Gottlieb talks with Philadelphia psychologist Mohammadreza Hojat, the pioneer of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy. […]

Vulnerabilities, shame, and self-acceptanceApril 16
We never really know the impact it has when we openly talk about uncomfortable feelings we have or our physical or mental challenges. And while we may fear and deem these things as shameful, they may be conduits for something else -- like a path to healing or creativity, […]

Snap to irrational or violent behaviorApril 9
The headlines capture our attention: a JetBlue Airways pilot goes berserk in midair... a U.S. soldier is sought in the killings of Afghan civilians in Kandahar. These acts muddle our understanding of human behavior, leaving us confused and searching for answers. What causes […]

Autism: When support is at stakeApril 2
April is National Autism Awareness Month, a time for public discussion about common issues and needs within the autism community. Locally in Pennsylvania, there is growing concern that drastic service cuts by the state could force adults with autism and intellectual disabilities […]

Alzheimer’s: The emotional toll on familiesMarch 26
Alzheimer's: it's almost always a family affair that involves the shouldering of many new responsibilities and high emotions. New research holds promise, and information and support groups are helpful. Still, it can be overwhelming to care for a loved one who's spiraling […]

It’s not your mother’s menopauseMarch 19
Menopause is a midlife change all women share. What was silently suffered-through by our mothers is now something women take time to learn about and find time to talk about. Women have questions about hot flashes, headaches, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, hormones […]

Van Gogh: Madness and the creative mindMarch 5
The "Red-headed Madman" Vincent Van Gogh lived a tumultuous life, complicated by bouts of anxiety and mental illness. An exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art features a collection of his works created in the year just before his death, a time of "feverish artistic […]

Healing power of poetryFebruary 27
Poetry can give shape and voice to our darkest feelings of suffering. Research shows writing about difficult moments can be an extraordinarily freeing experience, leading to a sense of safety, renewed energy, and restored order. Dr. Dan Gottlieb talks with author and teacher […]

Caring for, saying goodbyeFebruary 20
Author Patricia A. Nugent never intended her journal about caregiving for her terminally ill parents to become a book. Her entries about "caring for" and "saying goodbye" as seen through the eyes of a daughter, are really about a journey so many of us must take. One day, we […]

Dating again after 50February 13
More than a third of Americans over the age of 50 are single. And that can mean entering the dating scene for the first time in 20 years, raising all sorts of confusing issues. Although dating experts say that being true to what you want is key to being open and ready to […]

Getting beyond anxiety’s gripFebruary 6
Sometimes anxiety can keep us frozen. We can begin to ruminate and lose sleep, even over little things. Or we may become afraid to ask for what we really want -- that raise, affection, or assistance with daily tasks. Our minds can get cluttered with questions like “what if […]

Stepfamily therapyJanuary 30
While stepfamilies are the fastest growing family form in the United States, building positive relationships in a stepfamily takes time and can be complicated. There are roles and rules that need to be defined. Sometimes there's competition for attention, a history of […]

Social capital: Connections cultivatedJanuary 23
It may not be a term you throw around very often or give much thought to, but social capital figures prominently in our lives. It's there when we attend a gallery opening... exercise with neighbors... call an old friend...or volunteer at the local library. Social capital […]

Transitions, controlling your narrativeJanuary 9
What do you want for your life? Many of us choose one path, then want another. Perhaps something that's more creative, altruistic, or legacy making. Making this switch can be scary and complex; but by digging deeply, we can gain clarity and confidence -- and ultimately find […]